Name: Henry Washington Age: 23 Gender: M Occupation: U.S. Soldier Appearance: White Location: Pearl Harbor Personality/Quirks/Unique Personality Traits: Brave Family: At U.S. Education: High school graduate Languages you speak: English Your main concerns at this time and in life: loss of family Portrait (an image that you and we can live with):
July 8th, 1937 -
Today is another fine vacation day here at Ho Chi Min, Vietnam. I never get used to this language and custom but with some time, i thought I would get along fine. Some might say ‘Aren’t there much better choices when it comes to vacation?’, but hey, I’m not staying here for a long reason. First, the food is absolutely awesome and cheap. This thai food is really something that got me. Also, the people here are nice to White guys like me since there barely is any in the country. But best of all, woman; I think I fell in love with this beautiful woman. I was walking down the road yesterday to the market, and I saw another white woman, astonishingly attractive as well, working in a some sort of farm. I hit her with a big smile, and she seemed surprised; well, not exactly by my face but the fact that i was white as well. I told her my name was Henry Washington and that I was an American soldier, but I should’ve realized she was french, because as soon as she opened her mouth, I knew this relationship wouldn’t go as easy as I thought. All I got from an hour of sign-making was her number, and that her name was Elaine, she is single, and she owns the rubber plantation here. When I got back home, I kept thinking about this woman. She was charming, beautiful, rich, smart and white. When I got to the point where I started fantasying about what would happen if I married her, my phone I was holding only for the military rang. I thought ‘uh-oh, this is not good’. It was my general, telling me to return immediately to Pearl Harbor since Japan pulled its first sword against China this morning. What is this? I finally meet the woman of my life and my vacation is suddenly over and put into the danger of dying? I would’ve left this place with no regret if it weren’t for that woman, but right now, after the event at the market, this is really hard for me. I need to start packing up. I will probably stop by tomorrow as I promised.
connected with Christina Chin
1938
Things have gone bad. I still miss Elaine, and Japan's actions are obviously provoking our country to enter the war as well. Our general has not made a move yet, but I can feel the tensed atmosphere in our camps in Pearl Harbor. Within this intense atmosphere, our unit seemed to be divided into two factions; one eager to slaughter, and another feared of war and massacre. I think I’m the latter. Since we are the front-lines of the eminent war in Asia, I feel uncomfortable in sleep, and food often gets stuck in the stomach. I can see an obvious increase in the usage of nursing homes. We all are getting sensitive and cranky everyday, with our hair standing up 24/7. I better make a call home today because since the news reached us today, it probably reached the main land by now; I want to know them in advance and let them know that I am safe, even though they won’t be happy and begging for me to come back, I have to make living for the family to afford food. My old friend John, who’s also working in the U.S. army as a pilot, is living in U.S. with his brother, Gregory. I better let them know as well. Gregory, a young friend of mine who is still 17 in high school, needs to know how dangerous it is to participate and join the army like how his brother and I did. I will tell him that it’s the best to enter college and work on the development of the country, rather than risking a worthy life to the country, because I know the best. I know how hard this is and how much I regret. Today is going to be a long day.
Tonight I called Gregory. He seemed unsure about his future and what he really wanted. I wanted to tell him to not join the army, and block him from the shades of the war. All I could tell him was that this was a serious business, and I told him about the story between me and Elaine, and explained how one can lose one’s lover easily. He seems to understand, but his response seems ambivalent. I thought I’d be better to tell his brother to convince him. I mailed John that I needed to talk to him during his coming to Pearl Harbor for a flight mission tomorrow.
Connected with James Chae
1938 december 12
John is here. I met him after his mission and boy, he seemed exhausted. He told me even after many years of flying, he still didn’t get used to it. We had some casual conversation but I wanted to go straight to the point: Gregory. I showed him my concern for him and John’s influence on a young life. I also told him that I didn’t want another victim of this massacre. He agreed, and said he tried to convince him, but it didn’t work. I understand. It’s never easy to stop a blood-boiling teen from doing he is crazy on. Because Gregory spent a lot of time with his brother John, John must’ve been Greg’s idol since now, a somewhat goal to achieve. I told John that it would be best to make himself give up on this, to get the right impression of the war and cruel realities. John said he has an idea. He said why don’t we make up an imaginary event that would shock him and scare him away from joining the army. I said that’s a great plan. When we tried to proceed to the planning, our general dismissed our meeting, and we had to be separated from each other. I thought I heard him saying he is leaving tomorrow due to heavy schedule. I honestly don’t know what to do now. I’m scared and can’t even guide myself to the right path. Now I’m stuck in here, just day dreaming all day. I will go to bed early and take John to his plane tomorrow, and finish up the planning. There are so many things to do and so many things to think about, while my time and schedule allow me to do them very slowly and ineffectively. I wish everything goes fine.
connected with Jong Hwan Bong
1941
Pearl Harbor was attacked. Almost all of us died and very few survived. I am very heavily injured and I know I’m lucky if ‘m able to walk again, because it looks like my muscles and tendons are severely damaged. I don’t know what our country’s next move is, but right now I just want to move back to my hometown and live with my family, where I don’t have to worry about death and fear. I also called Jon that there was no need to make up an imaginary event to scare his brother Gregory. I called Gregory and told him everyone is dead, and the same will happen to him if he joined the army. I also sent him some pictures of Pearl Harbor after the attack, my comrades with dislocated arms and legs, and myself wrapped up like a mummy lying on a hospital bed. To his memory, I was probably one of those athlete friend who was very healthy and energetic. He seemed pretty shocked at my look, depressed and pressured. I hope I made it clear, and I’m sure I did. Everyone I know around is either dead or injured, not only physically but in the inside as well. The families of my comrades call the camp numerous times to verify my comrades’ deaths, saying that ‘they can not believe it’. Boy, and you think I would? This guy lying around the floor with still-opened eyes played chess with me, laughed with me, and ate with me yesterday. And he’s gone now. I was extremely scared when the war first struck, but now I’m furious. I got over-emotional during the phone call with Elaine she often had to stop me by saying ‘calm down’ multiple times. I don’t think I realized I was crying the whole time. After I hung up, my phone rang immediately. It was my family, and as soon as they heard my voice, they bursted into tears, saying they knew I was alive. And for that moment during the call, I felt like I became a baby. I kept crying and saying I’m scared mom. I told them that I wanted to go back, and they said come as soon as possible. So I did.
connected with Jong Hwan Bong, James Chae, Christina Chin
Age: 23
Gender: M
Occupation: U.S. Soldier
Appearance: White
Location: Pearl Harbor
Personality/Quirks/Unique Personality Traits: Brave
Family: At U.S.
Education: High school graduate
Languages you speak: English
Your main concerns at this time and in life: loss of family
Portrait (an image that you and we can live with):
July 8th, 1937 -
Today is another fine vacation day here at Ho Chi Min, Vietnam. I never get used to this language and custom but with some time, i thought I would get along fine. Some might say ‘Aren’t there much better choices when it comes to vacation?’, but hey, I’m not staying here for a long reason. First, the food is absolutely awesome and cheap. This thai food is really something that got me. Also, the people here are nice to White guys like me since there barely is any in the country. But best of all, woman; I think I fell in love with this beautiful woman. I was walking down the road yesterday to the market, and I saw another white woman, astonishingly attractive as well, working in a some sort of farm. I hit her with a big smile, and she seemed surprised; well, not exactly by my face but the fact that i was white as well. I told her my name was Henry Washington and that I was an American soldier, but I should’ve realized she was french, because as soon as she opened her mouth, I knew this relationship wouldn’t go as easy as I thought. All I got from an hour of sign-making was her number, and that her name was Elaine, she is single, and she owns the rubber plantation here. When I got back home, I kept thinking about this woman. She was charming, beautiful, rich, smart and white. When I got to the point where I started fantasying about what would happen if I married her, my phone I was holding only for the military rang. I thought ‘uh-oh, this is not good’. It was my general, telling me to return immediately to Pearl Harbor since Japan pulled its first sword against China this morning. What is this? I finally meet the woman of my life and my vacation is suddenly over and put into the danger of dying? I would’ve left this place with no regret if it weren’t for that woman, but right now, after the event at the market, this is really hard for me. I need to start packing up. I will probably stop by tomorrow as I promised.
connected with Christina Chin
1938
Things have gone bad. I still miss Elaine, and Japan's actions are obviously provoking our country to enter the war as well. Our general has not made a move yet, but I can feel the tensed atmosphere in our camps in Pearl Harbor. Within this intense atmosphere, our unit seemed to be divided into two factions; one eager to slaughter, and another feared of war and massacre. I think I’m the latter. Since we are the front-lines of the eminent war in Asia, I feel uncomfortable in sleep, and food often gets stuck in the stomach. I can see an obvious increase in the usage of nursing homes. We all are getting sensitive and cranky everyday, with our hair standing up 24/7. I better make a call home today because since the news reached us today, it probably reached the main land by now; I want to know them in advance and let them know that I am safe, even though they won’t be happy and begging for me to come back, I have to make living for the family to afford food. My old friend John, who’s also working in the U.S. army as a pilot, is living in U.S. with his brother, Gregory. I better let them know as well. Gregory, a young friend of mine who is still 17 in high school, needs to know how dangerous it is to participate and join the army like how his brother and I did. I will tell him that it’s the best to enter college and work on the development of the country, rather than risking a worthy life to the country, because I know the best. I know how hard this is and how much I regret. Today is going to be a long day.
Tonight I called Gregory. He seemed unsure about his future and what he really wanted. I wanted to tell him to not join the army, and block him from the shades of the war. All I could tell him was that this was a serious business, and I told him about the story between me and Elaine, and explained how one can lose one’s lover easily. He seems to understand, but his response seems ambivalent. I thought I’d be better to tell his brother to convince him. I mailed John that I needed to talk to him during his coming to Pearl Harbor for a flight mission tomorrow.
Connected with James Chae
1938 december 12
John is here. I met him after his mission and boy, he seemed exhausted. He told me even after many years of flying, he still didn’t get used to it. We had some casual conversation but I wanted to go straight to the point: Gregory. I showed him my concern for him and John’s influence on a young life. I also told him that I didn’t want another victim of this massacre. He agreed, and said he tried to convince him, but it didn’t work. I understand. It’s never easy to stop a blood-boiling teen from doing he is crazy on. Because Gregory spent a lot of time with his brother John, John must’ve been Greg’s idol since now, a somewhat goal to achieve. I told John that it would be best to make himself give up on this, to get the right impression of the war and cruel realities. John said he has an idea. He said why don’t we make up an imaginary event that would shock him and scare him away from joining the army. I said that’s a great plan. When we tried to proceed to the planning, our general dismissed our meeting, and we had to be separated from each other. I thought I heard him saying he is leaving tomorrow due to heavy schedule. I honestly don’t know what to do now. I’m scared and can’t even guide myself to the right path. Now I’m stuck in here, just day dreaming all day. I will go to bed early and take John to his plane tomorrow, and finish up the planning. There are so many things to do and so many things to think about, while my time and schedule allow me to do them very slowly and ineffectively. I wish everything goes fine.
connected with Jong Hwan Bong
1941
Pearl Harbor was attacked. Almost all of us died and very few survived. I am very heavily injured and I know I’m lucky if ‘m able to walk again, because it looks like my muscles and tendons are severely damaged. I don’t know what our country’s next move is, but right now I just want to move back to my hometown and live with my family, where I don’t have to worry about death and fear. I also called Jon that there was no need to make up an imaginary event to scare his brother Gregory. I called Gregory and told him everyone is dead, and the same will happen to him if he joined the army. I also sent him some pictures of Pearl Harbor after the attack, my comrades with dislocated arms and legs, and myself wrapped up like a mummy lying on a hospital bed. To his memory, I was probably one of those athlete friend who was very healthy and energetic. He seemed pretty shocked at my look, depressed and pressured. I hope I made it clear, and I’m sure I did. Everyone I know around is either dead or injured, not only physically but in the inside as well. The families of my comrades call the camp numerous times to verify my comrades’ deaths, saying that ‘they can not believe it’. Boy, and you think I would? This guy lying around the floor with still-opened eyes played chess with me, laughed with me, and ate with me yesterday. And he’s gone now. I was extremely scared when the war first struck, but now I’m furious. I got over-emotional during the phone call with Elaine she often had to stop me by saying ‘calm down’ multiple times. I don’t think I realized I was crying the whole time. After I hung up, my phone rang immediately. It was my family, and as soon as they heard my voice, they bursted into tears, saying they knew I was alive. And for that moment during the call, I felt like I became a baby. I kept crying and saying I’m scared mom. I told them that I wanted to go back, and they said come as soon as possible. So I did.
connected with Jong Hwan Bong, James Chae, Christina Chin